Establishment of ad-hoc networks between multiple devices

• US 7,916,663 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Yee, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chou; Albert T
• Application Number:
  US11/857,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20080089300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method of configuring an ad-hoc wireless network between an authenticator and a plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication includes assigning a wireless device as the authenticator and receiving a first setup message transmitted from a first device seeking authentication to the authenticator and initiating a first handshake process between the authenticator and the first device seeking authentication. The method also includes receiving a second setup message transmitted from a second device seeking authentication to the authenticator. The second setup message is received by the authenticator prior to completion of the first handshake process. The method further includes initiating a second handshake process between the authenticator and the second device seeking authentication. The second handshake process is initiated prior to completion of the first handshake process. Moreover, the method includes completing the first handshake process and completing the second handshake process.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an ad-hoc wireless network between an authenticator and a plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication, the method comprising:

assigning a wireless device as the authenticator;

receiving a first setup message transmitted from a first device seeking authentication to the authenticator;

initiating a first handshake process between the authenticator and the first device seeking authentication;

receiving a second setup message transmitted from a second device seeking authentication to the authenticator, wherein the second setup message is received by the authenticator prior to completion of the first handshake process;

initiating a second handshake process between the authenticator and the second device seeking authentication, wherein the second handshake process is initiated prior to completion of the first handshake process;

completing the first handshake process; and

completing the second handshake process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the authenticator comprises a registrar and the plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication comprise a plurality of enrollees.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of enrollees comprise three or more enrollees.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the authenticator, the first device seeking authentication, and the second device seeking authentication comprise wireless gaming devices.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is assigned as the authenticator based on input from a user of the wireless device, the authenticator comprising a registrar.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the authenticator maintains a first state machine associated with the first device seeking authentication and a second state machine associated with the second device seeking authentication.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the authenticator maintains a database adapted to store information related to the first handshake process and the second handshake process.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first setup message is transmitted in response to a user action taken on the first device seeking authentication.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the user action comprises a button push associated with a push button configuration (PBC) mode.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the first handshake process and initiating the second handshake process are performed in response to a single user action taken on the authenticator.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the single user action taken on the authenticator comprises pushing a button.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first setup message comprises an EAP message and the second setup message comprises an EAP message.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein completing the second handshake process is completed after completing the first handshake process.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the ad-hoc network conforms to the IEEE 802. 11 standard.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the authenticator is further adapted to act as a device seeking authentication.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device seeking authentication and the second device seeking authentication are further adapted to act as authenticators.

17. A wireless device adapted to configure an ad-hoc wireless network between the wireless device and a plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication, the wireless device comprising:

a first port adapted to receive a first setup message transmitted from a first device seeking authentication to the wireless device;

a first processor adapted to initiate a first handshake process between the wireless device and the first device seeking authentication;

a second port adapted to receive a second setup message transmitted from a second device seeking authentication to the wireless device, wherein the second setup message is received by the wireless device prior to completion of the first handshake process;

a second processor adapted to initiate a second handshake process between the wireless device and the second device seeking authentication, wherein the second handshake process is initiated prior to completion of the first handshake process;

a third processor adapted to complete the first handshake process; and

a fourth processor adapted to complete the second handshake process.

18. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the wireless device comprises a registrar and the plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication comprise a plurality of enrollees.

19. The wireless device of claim 18 wherein the plurality of enrollees comprise three or more enrollees.

20. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the wireless device, the first device seeking authentication, and the second device seeking authentication comprise wireless gaming devices.

21. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the wireless device is assigned as the authenticator based on input from a user of the wireless device, the authenticator comprising a registrar.

22. The wireless device of claim 17 further comprising a first state machine associated with the first device seeking authentication and a second state machine associated with the second device seeking authentication.

23. The wireless device of claim 22 further comprising a database adapted to store information related to the first handshake process and the second handshake process.

24. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the first device seeking authentication comprises a trigger device.

25. The wireless device of claim 24 wherein the trigger device comprises a push button.

26. The wireless device of claim 17 further comprising a trigger device adapted to receive a single user action.

27. The wireless device of claim 26 wherein the trigger device comprises a push button.

28. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the first setup message comprises an EAP message and the second setup message comprises an EAP message.

29. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein completing the second handshake process is completed after completing the first handshake process.

30. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the ad-hoc wireless network conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

31. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the first port and the second port are a same port.

32. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the first processor, the second processor, the third processor, and the fourth processor are a same processor.

33. A method of establishing an ad-hoc wireless network between a plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication, the method comprising:

selecting one wireless device as an authenticator;

generating one or more beacons at the authenticator;

determining that a timer value is less than a predetermined time;

receiving a request from a first device of the plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication;

determining that an enrollee count is less than a predetermined maximum value;

initiating a first handshake process between the authenticator and the first device;

increasing the enrollee count by one;

determining that the timer value is less than the predetermined value;

receiving a request from a second device of the plurality of wireless devices seeking authentication;

determining that the enrollee count is less than the predetermined maximum value; and

initiating a second handshake process between the authenticator and the second device.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising;

completing the first handshake process; and

completing the second handshake process.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein completing the second handshake process is completed after completing the first handshake process.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the one wireless device is selected as the authenticator based on input from a user of the one wireless device, the authenticator comprising a registrar.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise three or more wireless devices.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise wireless gaming devices.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise at least mobile phones, cameras, printers, MP3 players, or PDAs.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the authenticator maintains a first state machine associated with the first device and a second state machine associated with the second device.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the authenticator maintains a database adapted to store information related to the first handshake process and the second handshake process.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein the request from the first device comprises an EAP message and the request from the second device comprises an EAP message.

43. The method of claim 33 wherein the predetermined maximum value is determined by the authenticator.

44. The method of claim 33 wherein the ad-hoc wireless network conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

45. The method of claim 33 wherein the authenticator is further adapted to act as a wireless device seeking authentication.

46. The method of claim 33 wherein the first device seeking authentication is further adapted to act as authenticator.

47. The method of claim 33 wherein the second device seeking authentication is further adapted to act as authenticator.

48. An authentication apparatus selected from a plurality of wireless devices and adapted to establish an ad-hoc wireless network between the authentication apparatus and wireless devices seeking authentication, the authentication apparatus comprising:

a first processor adapted to generate one or more beacons;

a first decision module adapted to determine that a timer value is less than a predetermined time;

a first port adapted to receive a request from a first device of the wireless devices seeking authentication;

a second processor adapted to determine that an enrollee count stored in a memory is less than a predetermined maximum value;

a third processor adapted to initiate a first handshake process between the authentication apparatus and the first device;

a memory controller adapted to increase the enrollee count stored in the memory by one;

a second decision module adapted to determine that the timer value is less than the predetermined value;

a second port adapted to receive a request from a second device of the wireless devices seeking authentication;

a fourth processor adapted to determine that the enrollee count is less than the predetermined maximum value; and

a fifth processor adapted to initiate a second handshake process between the authentication apparatus and the second device.

49. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the third processor is further adapted to complete the first handshake process and the fifth processor is further adapted to complete the second handshake process.

50. The authentication apparatus of claim 49 wherein completing the second handshake process is completed after completing the first handshake process.

51. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein one of the plurality of wireless devices is selected as the authentication apparatus based on input from a user, the authentication apparatus comprising a registrar.

52. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise three or more devices.

53. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise wireless gaming devices.

54. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprise at least mobile phones, cameras, printers, MP3 players, or PDAs.

55. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 further comprising a first state machine associated with the first device and a second state machine associated with the second device.

56. The authentication apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a database adapted to store information related to the first handshake process and the second handshake process.

57. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the request from the first device comprises an EAP message and the request from the second device comprises an EAP message.

58. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the predetermined maximum value is determined by the authentication apparatus.

59. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the ad-hoc wireless network conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

60. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the first port and the second port are a same port.

61. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the first processor, the second processor, the third processor, the fourth processor, and the fifth processor are a same processor.

62. The authentication apparatus of claim 48 wherein the first decision module and the second decision module are a same decision module.